Man killed in Belltown stabbing

BY LEVI PULKKINEN, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

Updated 8:49 am, Friday, October 26, 2012

A man stabbed in the chest early Friday morning while walking in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood has died.

According to police, the man, thought to be in his early 20s, was walking with his girlfriend in the 2200 block of 1st Avenue when the stabbing occurred.

At about 1:45 a.m., the man began arguing with a group of at least four men, police spokesman Detective Mark Jamieson said. The slain man attempted to walk away but was stabbed in the chest before he could reach his car, Jamieson continued in a statement.

The victim collapsed to the ground and medics were summoned. Despite their efforts, though, the victim died after arriving at the hospital.

Police believe the men all got into a gray truck or SUV following the stabbing and fled the area northbound on 1st Avenue. Officers searched the area but, as of Friday morning, had not located the suspect vehicle.

Investigators believe the stabbing may have been preceded by a fight moments before outside of Tia Lous nightclub, and have asked that anyone with cell phone video of the fight contact police.

The fight or disturbance would have occurred between 1:30 a.m. and 1:40 a.m., minutes before the stabbing.

Witnesses have told detectives that people not involved in the fight or the stabbing may have captured either on their cell phones or other recording devices, Jamieson said in a statement. Detectives believe those images may assist in their investigation.

Anyone with any information or who may possess video of the disturbance leading up to the stabbing may contact the Seattle Police homicide unit at 206-684-5550.

Homicide detectives have begun their investigation. Jamieson cautioned that the report is preliminary and that additional information can be expected later in the day.